the winter 2021 top 10 things covid has stolen from us why I left campus early
IN THIS ISSUE
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emotional support animals
cooking and baking my way through an unusual semester
6
zooming through active classes
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16
top 10 things covid has stolen from us
UC A ND M
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RE O M
22
leave of absences
why I left campus early
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why i decided to pursue a fullbright
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what your mask says about you
CONTRIBUTORS PHILIP MARKS ‘21
ERIN BRYANT ‘21
Editor-in-Chief
Editor-in-Chief
Creative Director
CLAIRE GOLDSTEIN ‘22
On The Hill Editor
Photography Director
SAM BESCA ‘22
Travel Editor
Features Editor
ELISE WILSON ‘22
CARLIE ABRAHAM ‘21
JACK SULLIVAN ‘22
Opinion Editor
Editor-at-Large
Lifestyle Editor
GABRIELA DE MENDONCA GOMES ‘24
NICOLETTE VAN KESTEREN ‘23
Photographers
KATE BACIGALUPO ‘24 KAITLYN BIEBER ‘23 SOPHIE CHRISTENSEN ‘23 Layout Editors
CAMILLE SIRIANNI ANDREA HAYMAN CHAD VARNEY AUSTIN PING
‘22 ‘23 ‘22 ‘24
SAMMY SMOCK ‘23
Writers
BRIGIT HUMPHREYS ‘21 JACKSON DUSINBERRE ‘23 AARON KRAUS ‘21 NOAH GIOVANNELLI ‘21 HUNTER OLSTEIN ‘21 MATT CAPPELLETTI ‘21 ENTAO XIE ‘24 (SW) MADDIE CARTER ‘23
letter from the editors As the leaves turned brown and fell off the trees, the students of Hamilton College retreated to their dorms to continue their online classes and social distancing practices. Winter 2020-2021 marked a year since the discovery of the novel coronavirus that turned the world as we know it upside down. The cold weather brought spikes in COVID cases across the country with it, resulting in renewed isolation efforts and a general decline in mental wellness. While the world outside the Hamilton bubble raged on, students sought hope and happiness from uncommon places. This issue includes an exclusive spotlight on the campus’ favorite furry friends, Bunbun and Bootsie, two emotional support rabbits who rose to fame on Jodel and spread positivity everywhere they went. Some students sought a reprieve through more traditional means such as dancing, exercising, and cooking. However, given these “unprecedented” times, these activities were carried out from the safety of one’s own room using Zoom. Some of our friends chose to not return or to leave the Hill. We touched base with students who used their time away to pursue their passions, including snowboarding and producing music. On the flip side, we went in depth to see what motivated the decision to go home after being on campus. As always, we are incredibly grateful to our hardworking editors, writers, layout designers, and photographers. From all of us, we hope you enjoy this issue.
Erin & Phil
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FEATURES
ZOOMING THROUGH ACTIVE CLASSES
Nicolette van Kesteren
My final performance of theater class certainly didn’t “zoom” by. My mouth pressed against a tiny camera on my computer, I precariously balanced my body in the same position for twenty minutes so as not to move a single muscle. As much as I would have preferred to use my full body to express myself for this final performance, the schedule last semester made it impossible, and we were confined to a completely remote performance. My experience resonates with those students in dance, theater, and physical education classes, now working with no equipment, minimal space, and roommates constantly laughing at their ridiculous movements. When Hamilton entered yellow status last Fall, I shouldn’t have been surprised when I found my roommate, Stella Karron, videotaping herself doing exercise for her “Toning” PE class. “It was one thing to thing to look stupid exercising in class…”, she explained to me. “But to immortalize it in a home-movie type of way was just a lot. I also felt badly for my teacher, because I don’t see the fun in watching ten college students filming themselves doing leg lifts. I’m not pleased with the possible video of me doing push ups out there.” Of course, professors are not to blame for the shift from in-person workout classes to
6 videotaped exercises in dorm rooms. Professors of movement-based classes had to quickly adapt to the change, and find innovative ways to keep students engaged and creative within COVID’s limitations. The inability to see student’s full bodies and movement forced professors to learn to work within the constraints of Zoom. My theater professor, Jeanne Willcoxon, spoke to this constrain, but also to the new lens provided and required by such a format: “What Zoom does is make every movement count...and every movement does count, as your movement expresses the meaning of the piece you are performing. ” “I think Zoom actually got people thinking in really creative ways about how to stage scenes in class,” continued Professor Willcoxon. “If you
think of that Beckett piece...what happens in that really small space is incredibly powerful. Small space is entirely different from large space but it is still as potent a place for theatre to happen; perhaps even more potent because of the nearness and intimacy of the theatre.” Technology can be quite difficult to work with when you’re used to the environment of a dance studio or theater, but evidently, learning to adapt to it can yield incredibly creative work. In the end, it didn’t matter how ridiculous we felt in the moment, nor the extent that our teachers felt we were constrained by technology. What mattered was how Zoom brought us together, regardless of the coronavirus constraints on and off campus.
FEATURES
FIX IT YOURSELF Student Mental Health as a Student Problem Erin Bryant In a year characterized by an accumulation of “unprecedented times,” students bore the weight of the pressures of numerous socio-political crises and a global pandemic. Compounding these external circumstances, students faced a compressed semester without breaks, the ability to leave campus, or even the ability to visit their friends in other dorms for much of the semester. As a result, the mental health of students hit an all time low. Minds for Change, a studentled organization dedicated to destigmatizing and discussing mental health, fielded a survey to assess the general attitudes of students on and off campus. Roughly a quarter of the student body responded to the survey, and over 80% of them reported feeling burnout on a regular basis. Additionally, the semester caused over 70% of respondents to frequently feel stressed or anxious. These feelings derived primarily from the lack of breaks and workload. Though the student body overwhelmingly felt this way, the administration seemed to be unaware. Two days after the survey was released, David Wippman wrote in a notice about the upcoming spring semester that “most students [were] having a positive experience on campus,” to the surprise and dismay of most students. Subsequently, the survey found that 72% did not feel supported by the administration. “The school is doing a horrible job supporting its students. I get that it’s a balancing act
8 this semester, but mental health consequences are just as dire. Be better, Hamilton,” stated an anonymous student survey response. The results of the survey and this disconnect with administration prompted a petition, in which Minds for Change asked for at least one mental health day, at least one extension per student, and the inclusion of more student voices in planning for the spring semester. Though these appear to be reasonable requests, the administration did not follow through with two out of three of them and refused to take responsibility for the growing mental health problem. In addition to being powerless to make productive change, this student organization was also criticized for not putting out the survey earlier in the year, though the administration is supposed to be the group in charge of proactively accommodating mental health concerns on campus. Sam Zachar, co-president of Minds for Change, shared, “As the only mental health advocacy group on campus, we felt an immense pressure to respond and do our best to remedy the mental health crisis at Hamilton. I definitely put a lot of pressure on myself and became a bit overwhelmed by it all, resulting in a negative impact on my own mental health.” This semester, Student Assembly has put together a mental health task force, which endeavors to learn more about and resolve issues students faced in the fall. Hopefully, the inception of this group and increased collaboration with the administration will lead to a better, healthier semester in the spring, despite the unique challenges created by this time period.
FEATURES
HOWARD DINER’S GRAND RETURN Jack Sullivan
There are few things held closer to, nor regarded as so inseparable from the soul of a Hamilton student, than the deeply revered (and sorely missed) Howard Diner. Dark side or light, econ or art, athlete, politician, and musician alike fostered community in the ever-operative 3am crowds of Diner B, or the 9am droves of weary-eyed undergrads. Some reflected on turbulent expeditions downtown, while others found solace in a Black Russian amidst a night of essay writing. Others drifted through the double doors, guided by that neighborly smell familiar to any Continental: “I guess I could go for some diner…” Tenured debates of bacon mess versus BEC were routinely heard in those stalls—tots, of course, were mandatory. Someone probably spilled fluorescent blue powerade over the floor again; another avoided side-eyes and muttered denigration over the song they’d chosen on the jukebox. Alas, these are all distant memories. The oft-overcrowded episodes at diner that we do and do not remember provided ample opportunity for viral infection—a congestion that COVID would’ve unquestionably taken advantage of. And thus Diner was axed under Hamilton’s new guidelines, and for good reason. A period of grieving followed within the Hamilton community, as much for Tuscan wraps as the unique, circus-like scene found in and only in this beacon of grease. Students mourned and students remembered until, ultimately, students accepted. In the midst of a global pandemic, there simply could be no diner.
10 That was until this winter, of course. Bon Appetit heard our cries—perhaps in a telepathic transmission of the student body’s collective grief, or perhaps from the hundreds of emails concerning the diner’s closure filling their inbox. Either way, this new year has offered a new Diner: safe and sensible within the world of COVID. “We took into account a lot of feedback from students, and one of the things we heard loud and clear was how much students missed the Diner… we wanted to find a way to bring it back safely this semester,” said Lucy Burke, Hamilton’s Director of Procurement and Administrative Services, and a central figure in reopening this new and exciting iteration of the establishment. She continued, “We hope students are as excited about it as we are.” Patrick McDermott, now a junior at Hamilton, spent much of his first two years on the hill staring down diner burgers. In accord with Burke’s sentiment, McDermott was one of Howard Diner’s most prolific fans. “There’s just nowhere better to eat on campus,” said McDermott. “When Diner shut down for the fall, I was really bummed. Although we all expected it, losing it really took away a part of the Hamilton experience.” When asked about Diner’s latest rendering, McDermott was more than thrilled. “Of course, bringing Diner back at full capacity isn’t possible right now. Still, this COVID-safe version has been awesome so far, especially considering they’re open for late night. Eating there definitely brings back a lot of memories, and adds some level of normalcy to campus.” Mcdermott is not alone. The late-night option mimics the Diner B of old, scratching that constant itch of pre-COVID life on the hill. In addition, Bon Appetit continues to elevate the diner experience, this time through a virtual component which Burke expects to be a big hit. This new mode will allow students to order “diner favorites” through a new app which is set to roll out this semester. Tenders and fries on demand—I imagine few will complain.
ON THE HILL
Emotional Support Animals: Bunnies! Maggie Ryan
I’ve dealt with chronic mental health issues for most of my life. Depression and anxiety are pretty common, yet burdensome nonetheless. Aside from these issues, animals have been a positive constant in my life. I grew up surrounded by pets scratching at my door, snoring in the hallway, and coating every item of clothing in fur up until I left for college. I never realized just how healing they were until I found myself seeking out stuffed animals, something I hadn’t done since elementary school. There’s something about a fuzzy embrace that soothes my frayed nerves like nothing else can, and while me and my friends laughed at the growing cast of polyester creatures, it made me long for the real ones I’d left at home even more. Ask any of my friends and, with an eye roll and grin, they’ll confirm my afternoons spent pining on Petfinder. At that point, I hadn’t yet been diagnosed with anything and had a habit of writing off any troubles I was having as unworthy of attention. Believe it or not, ignoring your mental illnesses does not make them go away. Eventually, I received both a diagnosis and prescriptions for antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication. This medication was good enough in a time where, if I was in really dire straits, the comfort of a hug was a phone call away.
I’d had brief flirtations with the idea of an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) before, but I didn’t think it necessary enough to warrant going through the hassle. But then a little thing called COVID-19 happened, and it became clear that my remaining year at Hamilton would be mostly devoid of the little things I’d been relying on in addition to medication, chief among them being hugs. This new vision of my education, mostly spent alone in my room, would only work if I had an ESA.
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Fortunately, my wish was granted and I got to bring my two rabbits, Bunbun and Bootsie, up to school.
Their benefit is twofold; not only do they offer an adorable and comforting embrace that makes me smile no matter what, but in taking care of them I stay motivated to take better care of myself. No matter how apathetic I feel, I’ll never let that impact the otherwise helpless animals who depend on me. They need water, so they’ll get water. They need food, so they’ll get food. It sounds so simple, but there have been days I wouldn’t, couldn’t do that for myself. Even with medication, sometimes my illness gets the better of me. The rabbits ensure that it can’t go unchecked, and that’s made a world of difference.
Another reason it’s been really great having my rabbits on campus is that not only did they make this bizarre and lonely semester better for me, they also made it better for other students too. Most days I spend a few hours outside letting them scamper around the courtyard, and I can’t tell you how many times I laugh as people gasp in delight from seeing them, or pet them and find out just how soft rabbit fur really is. My rabbits bring me so much happiness, and it makes me even happier to share them with everyone else. I love making people smile, and these funny little bunnies do a fantastic job of just that.
ON THE HILL
CRAFTING CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM ON-CAMPUS ELISE WILSON This summer’s protests about the egregious mistreatment of black people by the police inspired a long overdue push in the nation’s criminal justice system to improve the way we support black lives. A small part of that effort is Executive Order 203, signed on June 12, 2020, by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. The policy requires that each local government in NY State develop a policy that improves public trust in the police, increases community engagement, and promotes public safety, especially considering the needs of local communities of color. The order emphasized community input from a variety of local groups, including residents, members of the justice system, like public defenders and police officers, as well as elected officials. It mandates that local areas research “evidence-based policing strategies,” including “use of force policies, procedural justice; any studies addressing systemic racial bias or racial justice in policing; implicit bias awareness training; de-escalation training and practices; law enforcement assisted diversion programs; restorative justice practices; community-based outreach and conflict resolution; problem-oriented policing; hot spots policing; focused deterrence; crime prevention through environmental design; violence prevention and reduction interventions; model policies and guidelines promulgated by the New York State Municipal Police Training Council; and standards promulgated by the New York State Law Enforcement Accreditation Program.” The overarching goal of the policy is to “reduce any racial disparities in policing” and improve community-police relations. Each community must adapt its respective plan no later than April 1, 2021. As a part of developing and implementing this policy locally, Professor Frank Anecharico and Professor Johnson from the government department co-taught a
14 Law and Justice Laboratory course in fall 2020 entitled Crafting Criminal Justice Reform. The course is also cotaught by Judge Ralph Eannace from Utica City Court and a part of the College-Community Partnership for Criminal Justice Reform, an association of faculty and administrators from local area colleges, including Herkimer College, Mohawk Valley Community College, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, and Utica College that seek to coordinate resources for policy reform in Oneida and Herkimer County. This innovative half-credit course divided students into two to three person teams to research specific facets of policy reform as listed in the order. In keeping with Exec. Order 203’s emphasis on community input, students reviewed a random sample survey from September 2020 of Oneida and Herkimer county residents that collected information about their experiences with the justice system and their thoughts about the role of the police.
After analyzing the survey results, students compiled and analyzed data from think tanks, interest groups, and university and government databases in researching the best practices for policing. Students presented their findings throughout the course and workshopped drafts of their research into a final report. A similar course was taught this fall at Utica College in connection with the Partnership. The course also incorporated a weekly webinar series presented by the Partnership. The webinar, which was also broadcast live onto the local news, featured presentations from policy experts, including professors from the area colleges, local court personnel like the Oneida County District Attorney, local police chiefs, among others. Students had ample time to interact with the presenters and ask questions related to the policy proposals in preparation for their final reports. The Levitt Center will compile and edit student reports before their presentation to area governments prior to the April deadline.
ON THE HILL
TOP 1O THINGS COVID HAS STOLEN FROM US PHILIP MARKS Let me preface this by stating that this article is not meant for upperclassmen, and especially not seniors. It was agonizing to write. This is meant for all the freshmen and any sophomores who have yet to experience the true wonders of Hamilton and Central New York. You’ve heard all about Diner B, but still don’t really know what college is like. Take this as something to look forward to when rona has finally kicked the bucket. And seniors: I warned you.
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Once you’ve been to one of them, you’ve been to all of them. A conglomeration of human flesh in a room meant for maybe half that capacity. It’s too loud to hear anyone and it’s too dark to recognize anyone. Someone probably hands you a jello shot, and you call it a night.
More of an urban legend at this point, but I’ll include it to give you all something to strive for. For those of you who don’t know, the Co-op basement is just about the best party spot left on campus. Problem is it’s strictly off-limits, due to one iconic night back in the fall of 2017. Ask around, I guarantee someone you know was there.
OP PARTI
Man’s greatest gift to CNY. It’s pretty much just a shack and some picnic tables, but give it nice weather and some good music and you’ve got yourself a legendary night. Of course, half the fun is just making it in before it’s capped. Once you do get in, ask for a double spring laker at the bar and thank me later.
ON THE HILL
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Let’s face it, Hamilton isn’t known for its sports. However, we do have a sick hockey team and the Citrus Bowl is pretty much our Super Bowl. It usually caps off a great weekend of sports and fundraising, with an added bonus of going completely nuts if the boys are able to take down a NESCAC rival.
Hamilton students need somewhere to go when they’re hungover: insert [Charlie’s]. Nothing more than a quaint diner in Clinton, however, their breakfast is undoubtedly to die for. A truly devastating loss that we haven’t been able to go this year.
LIE’S PLA
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I’m not even sure if this still exists, or if the whole crew graduated. However, once a year the Grilling Club throws their epic Pig Roast at Babbitt Pavilion, which always delivers copious amounts of meat, music, and memories. If it ever returns, it is not to be missed.
LLING CLU CAPPELLA
Alright, admittedly I’m reaching here. You probably went back on Accepted Students Day and chances are they’re still singing the same songs. However, you’ve also probably got friends in some of the groups and hey, at least you’ll get a good seat!
18 NIOR PUB E S I’m working on word of mouth for this one since no one left on this campus has ever been... Wow, that actually hurt to say. Anyway, it’s supposed to be fun and We had to come back to is pretty much the last thing drinking at some point— you have to look forward to there just isn’t a whole lot by the time you reach senior else to do here. An ordinary year. If you’ve still got some night at Hamilton will see time to go before you hit 21, you pregaming with some then consider checking out close friends before you trivia at the Pub as well every inevitably decide to head Tuesday. Always a good time downtown. Most people and who knows, you might only have one thing on their even get someone to slip you mind at this point; howeva drink. er, if you’re just out to be out then taking a lap at the Village Tavern is a great way to catch up with some old friends and run into people you otherwise might never see. If that gets old you can always head down the street to the Rok—isn’t it nice to have such variety here?
A LAP IN V
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You know what? Nah... I can’t do this. See for yourself if we even get one... *slams head on table*
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d n a g n i cook y m g n i bak h g u o r way th l a u s u an un r e t s e m se reys h
p Brigit Hum
One morning in early September, I was scrolling through the dozens of emails that Hamilton students receive every day. On this particular day, one email from the Counseling Center stood out to me above the rest. Something about free food? I was hooked. Reading further, I learned that registered dietitian, Lela Niemetz, was hosting a Zoom cooking class where she would lead students to prepare their own dinner using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and the first 15 students to sign up would receive these ingredients for free! It was called “Quarantine Pantry” and it sounded like the best thing ever to me. I immediately signed up and texted my suitemates about this incredible opportunity that had strolled so casually into our lives. Little did we know that participating in Quarantine Pantry would soon become a routine and a consistent highlight of our week that would bring us closer together as friends. After attending the first Zoom cooking class with Lela, making zucchini garden pizzas, I knew I wanted to get further involved. In an email to the Counseling Center, I described my passion for Quarantine Pantry and inquired about any potential student employment opportunities and I was soon hired to assist with distributing ingredients. Every week, I handed out boxes of fresh ingredients to eager, grateful students. After a few weeks, it became clear that Quarantine Pantry was wildly popular, so we decided to expand the program. I posed the idea to make additional locallysourced ingredient kits, but for cookies instead of dinners, and soon Cookie Pantry was born. As an avid baker who always missed making cookies at school, I
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was very excited to begin my new role! Every Thursday, I led a group of students on Zoom through softening butter, measuring flour, cracking eggs, and creating yummy treats to enjoy and share. With additional funding from the Hamilton Office of the President, we were able to expand further to provide a total of 90 free ingredient kits between the two programs. Since the first class, Lela has led students in making so many great dishes, including ratatouille, spaghetti squash pizza bowls, kale apple salad, mushroom cream cheese triangles, savory oats, and empanadas. For Cookie Pantry, some recipes we’ve made include chickpea peanut butter cookies, lemon lavender sugar cookies, pumpkin oatmeal cookies, lemon bars, maple scones, and mint chocolate whoopie
pies. It is truly amazing how many great new recipes I have learned to make in our small dorm kitchen with limited supplies, proving you don’t need much to make great food. Cooking and baking in your college dorm definitely comes with challenges. However, students have found innovative ways to make it work, from sharing knives with neighbors to baking cookies in the microwave if the common room stove was occupied. Not only do Quarantine and Cookie Pantry support mental health through virtually connecting the community, teaching important life skills, offering healthy meals, and relieving stress, they also support local farmers during this especially challenging time. Locally-sourced vegetables, eggs, oats, butter, and maple syrup are all common ingredients found in the kits. I now feel like the luckiest person alive having such a fun and rewarding campus job that is helping students cope with a socially-distant semester. These programs will continue during the spring semester, and although I will be graduating in May, I hope they continue in future semesters even when the pandemic is over. By teaching new life skills, supporting local farmers, and bringing students closer together, Quarantine and Cookie Pantry have connected our community and have proved to me that with a passion and an idea, anything is possible.
LIFESTYLE
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Maddie Carter With so much happening in 2020, as a country and individually, we were only able to do so much. We were restricted to critical environments and activities. While I was among the masses when it came to feeling socially isolated, I learned to appreciate the frighteningly large amount of free time. I got to know myself through times of quarantine to my current leave of absence. Since I was young, I’ve always struggled with taking breaks when it comes to sports and academics, but with the world moving a little more slowly I learned to follow suit. It has been incredible to pick up new hobbies and discover some old ones during this time. I started hiking again in the state parks around me, many of which I had never been to before. I also started working as a teacher’s assistant at my local elementary school, learning in the process that I have a previously undiscovered passion for teaching. Nonetheless, school and sports remain high priorities for me, so I’m currently taking six online courses at the local community college and have become a member of their rowing team after fifteen years of competitive swimming. All in all, this time away from normalcy has revitalized me from my prior academic burnout and has given me invaluable time to reevaluate what I value for my future.
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Gabriela de Mendonca Gomes When I decided I wouldn’t be going back to Hamilton this year it was because I imagined that life on campus would be too restricting. When considering what I should do, I knew it would have to be something that afforded me more freedom, even through the winter during a pandemic. Taking all of that into consideration and after some research, my boyfriend and I decided that working at a ski resort might not be a bad idea since the main attraction of skiing and snowboarding lends itself to being able to operate with proper social distancing and COVID-19-safe regulations. So we moved out to Vail, Colorado when the ski season started in November. I now work full-time at the Patagonia store in Vail Village four days a week and on my off days, I go snowboarding. It turned out to be a pretty good idea and place to be since being outdoors snowboarding is something incredibly fun and low-pressure to do despite worries and limitations posed by the virus. So far it’s been a nice change from college, which sometimes seemed to be conducted at a relentless pace. We’ll be here until April, and then afterwards we’re taking a road trip through the National Parks in the Southwest–including places like Zion and Canyonlands–for about a month or so through the beginning of the summer. Providing a necessary pause in many respects, this time has definitely ignited an excitement in me to return to campus and finish my studies.
LIFESTYLE
Jackson Dusinberre My first two years at Hamilton were packed with unique and wonderful experiences and a lot of personal growth. I was looking forward to two weeks of philosophy camp the summer before my junior year and returning to school as an orientation trip leader. However, when COVID-19 struck in March, a different year began to take shape. Initially, a gap year was the last thing on my mind. Four months into it, however, I am at home and employed with a full-time job. Two local families hired me to help their four children navigate through the virtual semester. On a day to day basis, I handle tech issues and tutor reading, math, and Spanish. While the kids are in class, however, I utilize my time efficiently. I have been learning to produce and create my own music. So far, I have written two songs, edited them on GarageBand, and more recently have advanced to Logic Pro. In addition, I enrolled in a music production course to continue exploring this newfound passion. My goal is to release an EP by early summer of 2021. Stay tuned! When I told Andrew Jillings about my plans to pursue a gap year, his advice was, “Do something different.” With some encouragement from my family, I have decided to take a roadtrip across America in the spring. You can buy an “America the Beautiful Pass” for just $80, which gives you full access to the nation’s national parks. With some budgeting, a road trip can be relatively cheap and will be the adventure of a lifetime! Although this has been a chaotic and a trying time for many, there has been a silver lining to it all for me. Last year, I had often experienced the sensation of life passing me by too quickly. Now, I get to spend a lot of time with my family, reconnect with old friends, and slow down to take it all in. I look forward to returning to the Hill next fall with lots of energy and a renewed outlook.
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LIFESTYLE
What your mask says about you Sammy Smock
This unprecedented pandemic has given us enough time to wear and try out a lot of different masks, leading many of us to develop our own preferences of masks based on various criteria such as comfort, style, and (usually) convenience. No matter what kind of mask you like to wear, remember to keep it on (over your mouth AND nose!), remain socially distant, wash your hands, and stay safe!
Patterned Cloth Mask
Neck Gaiter
Though the quality of your Hamilton experience has declined due to the pandemic, you are trying to make the most of the situation by making as many college memories as you possibly can while still staying safe. This includes trying to coordinate your mask with your outfit, of course.
If you wear a neck gaiter, you are undoubtedly some kind of athlete. You’re on your way out for a run right now. You like the convenience and freedom that it offers you -- it’s the easiest mask to take on and off! Also, it takes the place of a scarf in the winter, giving the added bonus of warmth.
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Surgical Mask You probably just came from your science lab. When you first put it on, the smell that came from this mask distracted you from the chemical solution you were supposed to be mixing, but now hours later you’ve almost forgotten that you’re wearing a mask. In the nicest way possible, you’re pretty basic and probably wear monochromatic colors.
Handmade Mask If you endeavored to make your own masks, you definitely have to be a crafty person! Your dark side single has lots of plants and homemade artwork on the walls. If your mom made it for you, you are her favorite kid and you should definitely text her a picture of you wearing it right now...
NO! Hamilton Mask
No Mask
If you consistently wear one of these, I respect your dedication to school spirit. Considering I took the plastic adjusters off and accidentally shrunk one in the dryer, I can’t relate. If you’re wearing it upside down, do you notice? You also probably wear monochromatic colors/outfits.
You give off the vibes that you don’t have a lot of concern for your health, the health of others around you, or the contract of rules you signed to come back to campus. We all know that it’s harder to breathe, sweatier, and no one can understand what you’re saying, but please choose to do the right thing and endure these inconveniences in order to ensure our community is safe.
LIFESTYLE
HOW I SUCCESSFULLY QUARANTINED AARON KRAUS
28 My phone rang on a Saturday at noon. The number was local and my suite-mates and I had heard about a few positive tests surfacing the night before, so my friend joked that it was a contact tracer and I smiled in response. When I answered the phone, my smile vanished and was replaced by a feeling of disbelief. I was instructed to pack up whatever I would need for the next two weeks as I would be driven to a hotel in New Hartford. I had received a similar call a few weeks prior, when I reported feeling flu-like symptoms and was placed into a room at the Bristol Center. I was only at Bristol for one night, though, after testing negative. This time there was no getting out. I waited about seven hours until campus safety brought me to the hotel. I was one of about thirty students being transported that day. Most of them knew who their contact was, as their contact had informed them. I had no idea, though, and none of my closest friends were placed in quarantine; this uncertainty produced additional stress, as I couldn’t gauge my probability of actually having the virus. Thankfully, I didn’t end up getting it. Despite the unfortunate situation, the hotel was nice. I had two queen beds, a large TV and a nice bathroom. The setup far outdid my Bristol room, which had smaller amenities and was filled with fruit flies — I had to kill a few hundred just to shower. Additionally, I had a $350 Grubhub gift card for each week of my stay, which afforded me two orders per day. The first few days were the hardest. I was bored, lonely, and unmotivated. My desk was next to two huge beds and a TV, so it was hard to stay focused. I eventually got myself into a rhythm and maintained my sanity by FaceTiming friends and family, and to the dismay of my downstairs neighbor, playing soccer in my room (sorry Camille). Additionally, some of us who were quarantined met on Zoom and bonded over our shared struggle. I tried to focus on the silver linings of my situation. The Grubhub gift card was a godsend. I did a virtual food tour of the Utica/New Hartford area, ordering from almost twenty different places; I didn’t miss Hamilton dining in the slightest. Additionally, clothing was optional most of the time, and I could work from my bed. I was shamelessly lazy in this way. I also had a wonderful contact with Sharon Rippey. Sharon constantly made sure that I was okay and consistently spoiled me with treats from the cider mill. These perks, combined with outreach from friends and family, meant a lot for my mental health. Not seeing another human for fourteen days was really tough. I hardly slept the last night due to excitement. I’ll always remember the beautiful, 70 degree Saturday when I returned to campus. Thirty of us boarded a bus, and as we drove up the hill Biden’s election victory was confirmed. We had two reasons to celebrate freedom that day! Seeing people again was weird at first. After two weeks, I had become accustomed to hermitage. I felt a bit out of place and had to quickly transition into campus life and finals preparation. I was stressed out, but worked hard to get through the last month of school. I learned a lot about myself through this whole process. Most of all, I learned how much I value human interaction. Here’s to hoping this experience doesn’t repeat in the spring...
“The first few days were the hardest. I was bored, lonely, and unmotivated.”
TRAVEL
WHY I DECIDED TO PURSUE A FULBRIGHT Noah Giovannelli
This pandemic has created a world of uncertainty for all of us. People’s lives have been turned upside down and affected in all sorts of ways. As a college student I have had some minor setbacks compared to many people, but I have been fortunate enough to readjust my plans and figure out what I want to pursue upon graduation. I knew that I wanted to travel for a few years after graduation but was uncertain of exactly what I wanted to do. I am a Public Policy and Hispanic Studies double major, and my goal is to eventually become fluent in Spanish. I studied abroad in Madrid for two months before getting sent back due to COVID-19. While I was in Spain, I joined a tutoring program that allowed me to work with elementary-aged children to help develop their English speaking and comprehension skills. The students spoke very little English, so most of our session would be in Spanish, which helped me become more confident
30 in my own abilities as a Spanish speaker. I have always liked tutoring and am part of multiple education programs at Hamilton that work with students ranging from elementary to high school. I really enjoyed working with the students in Spain and found a new passion of mine in teaching others another language. I figured I would end up in a Spanish speaking country in an attempt to further my Spanish language skills, but was unsure of what I would try and do. After COVID hit and many of my plans were either cancelled or postponed, I began to think about my time in Spain and how much I enjoyed being there. I realized that tutoring was one of my best memories from Spain, and I wanted to pursue an opportunity that allowed me to work with others trying to learn English as a second language. Teaching is in my blood. My mother was an elementary school teacher for many years before eventually switching to become an ESL teacher. She loves working with her students and is passionate about trying to have a positive impact on their lives. Many of her students’ families speak another language in their own household, making learning at an American public school difficult. The students are excited about learning English and want to become better speakers to help them in their educational and life experiences. That is the same goal I have with Spanish, and my desire is to help others achieve their goals with learning another language. The Fulbright Program offers the opportunity for college graduates to pursue a teaching opportunity in another country. I knew that I wanted to go to South America since I had never been there before, but was unsure of what country I wanted to apply to. After doing some research about countries’ different programs, Colombia became a clear first choice. I was drawn to the Colombia English Teaching Assistantship because of Colombia’s recent prioritization of higher education and focus on internationalization. This intersection coincides with my passion to help educate university students and prepare them with the proper tools to pursue careers in the global workforce. People from all over the world are affected by COVID, and the only way to beat the virus is to come together on a global level. From my own experiences with COVID I realized my desire to use my own skills and passions to help others reach their goals. I don’t think there is a better opportunity to do that than teaching. I hope that my role as an English Teaching Assistant in Colombia will help have an impact on Colombian students who wish to have a positive influence on their own communities and beyond.
TRAVEL
HOW TO USE YOUR WELLNESS DAYS HUNTER OLSTEIN With a second pandemic semester coming up, students have the chance to look forward to a few much needed days of break. The odd construction of the break, however, has left students wondering how they should relax on their days off. With each day of break in separate months, we have put together a unique list of epic adventures on which one can embark. Each idea falls within a short 2-3 hour time frame of so as to keep your break jam packed:
32 Watering Holes!
Go out and discover one of the ol’ watering holes on campus. You can make your own private beach!
Vacation Getaway
You can't leave campus which means sadly, no vacation trips. There are, however, miles of glens that one can adventure to. For this one, we recommend building your own fantastical land in the forest through imagination. Build your own woodland projects. For this one you could go as easy as building a rope swing you can use to take out one of your friends.
Fitness
We know, we know. This may feel like a given, but it is a crucial reminder that time dedicated to your physical health can do wonders for your mental well-being. The way to perfection is work, like Scarface, Godfather, Rocky, or Schwartzenager. The way to prove yourself is to better yourself. It’s the American way.
Become a Stripper
Why not use break to show the world, “Hey erotic dancing, it’s alright, alright, alright.”
TRAVEL
King of the Hill
Some old backyard games are always a great way to pass the time while giving your mind a break. One team protects a location and the other defends! You can even create your own narrative for the game like we all did as kids like nationalist terrorists versus soldiers.
Espionage
What better way to spend the day than getting revenge on that one person enforcing COVID restrictions anonymously. Walk around campus looking for a “good time.” Once you've infiltrated a gathering, find the spy and hold them accountable for seditious acts!
Treasure Hunt
This one is easy and a great group activity. Gather your friends and discover an old treasure map in the attic of Root. Now, head to the woods… you’re looking for a one-eyed willie. If you find the old abandoned cliff side seafood place by the abandoned car, look for a cave entrance. The medallion you find in the map unlocks the way from there. Watch out for the mean Fratelli crime family and their murderous antics. Once you reach the caves, ensure your rowdy gang of misfits has one piano player and leave the largest, goofiest of your friends behind to distract the wanted murderers. Finally, you can save your house from those pesky bankers.
34 Moon Watching
An outdoor night-time activity! Meet with your friends and see if you can find the rumored “Second Moon” spotted by the campus water condensers. There’s an old hooded man who sits in the corner of the pub who can help you with this one. Once you meet him, find the biggest asshole in the bar and ask him to drive you as fast as he can to Yavin IV. From there hide in the trunk. Inevitably, story structure will require you to hit tension and be stopped. Once stormtroopers finish searching the man's car, sneak out, rescue the princess and escape in explosive fashion.
CARPE DIEM
Last but not least, SEIZE THE DAY!
CORRECTION FOR ABOVE: We apologize to readers. The above article was submitted too late to be corrected. With such a short window of vacation, the staff intention for this list was media recommendations. Due to COVID, we ask you please refrain from performing any activities with friends and dismiss any ill-conceived expectations of social activities in the near future. Please find the correct list below 13 Lakes (2004), Bridge to Terabithia (2007), Pain & Gain (2013), Magic Mike (2012), Olympus has Fallen (2013), The Goonies (1985), Seinfeld (1989-1998), Star Wars: A New Hope (1977), Tinker Tailor Spy (2011). Dead Poets Society (1989)
OPINION
Why I Left Campus Early Matt Cappelletti Fall 2020 was what everyone said it was – uncertain and unprecedented. Going back to school was a decision I reluctantly made just before the start of classes. I understood Hamilton’s policies, but I didn’t necessarily agree with them. I figured, “If we are all going back to campus but can’t go off campus, shouldn’t we then be allowed some freedom to socialize and interact on the Hill?” I know that the majority of my classmates felt similarly, considering the limited risk COVID-19 imposes on our age demographic, combined with the fact that most classes were remote or split up to limit contact with professors and other community members more at risk. I’m not advocating for off-campus parties or anything equally threatening, but students’ mental health and social well-being should have been prioritized by the administration as well, especially due to the compressed academic schedule and other natural stressors. I decided to leave campus on October 23 because I felt like I couldn’t breathe without breaking a rule. It started in early October when I accidentally missed a COVID test and received my first ‘strike’ for violating the Community Standards Agreement (CSA). The truth is, I was busy finishing a paper on a Friday and had baseball practice that afternoon, and it slipped my mind. After that, I felt as if I were walking on eggshells, trying to avoid violating the College’s regulations. I don’t know what kind of baseball Hamilton’s administration plays, but the 2 Strike Policy seems draconian considering the circumstances, responsibility, and respect students consistently displayed. Then, after I had already left campus voluntarily, I received an email stating that I was reported for going into a friend’s dorm in September! Consequently, I had a hearing, was found guilty, and was officially removed from campus, even though I was no longer there. As a result of this hearing, if I decide to return to campus in the spring, I will be placed on Official Warning Status, meaning if I get just one more violation, I will be asked to leave campus for the remainder of my senior year. All of the reasons that made it necessary to leave campus before the end of the semester are similarly related to the administration’s fumbling of nearly every aspect when it came to their COVID-19 policy. For example, when called upon to break up outdoor gatherings, Campus Safety frequently ‘forgot’ to wear masks. They completely missed an opportunity to adapt to the social needs of the community, like creating safe outdoor spaces to gather and have a drink with friends. Moreover, the administration actually encouraged students to throw their peers under the bus if they witnessed a CSA violation, and there were students on campus who made it seem like submitting testimonies of infractions was their hobby. Yes, coronavirus is real; it’s affecting millions of people and it’s a deadly virus in many cases. But, it’s been noted that college campuses are some of the safest places for people to gather because students are generally the least at-risk population, and if we were to contract the virus we would quarantine for a few days and come right back to campus. Overall, the measures taken were overkill, and the actions of my classmates made Hamilton an undesirable place to be. Being unable to leave campus except for groceries, the concrete enclosures that are the Babbitt suites seemed in-
36 creasingly like prison cells. It also doesn’t make sense to allow staff and faculty to return home and travel off campus as they wish while prohibiting students from doing the same. The language the College used in the Agreement was dangerously ambiguous, resulting in a restricted experience with students unknowingly breaking extraneous rules. By being explicit and keeping the strict testing policy, it would’ve been possible to give responsible Hamilton students more freedom while also not endangering the town of Clinton or the state of New York. It would’ve made students less inclined to leave campus and would have granted us at least the sense of community we’re all used to and were missing this year. There should’ve been more of an effort to allow friends to live near each other this fall, or at least allow them to see each other, especially as the weather worsened. I was fearful of someone walking by my common room and reporting my roommates and I for not having masks because that was against the rules too, unfortunately. Similarly, the administration ignoring that students have significant others who would go into each other's dorms if they were unlucky enough to have been housed separately was negligent and ignorant. Furthermore, I felt it appropriate to leave campus because there were no in-person resources. I couldn’t make an appointment with the Career Center or the Registrar, so Hamilton just became a place where I took my online classes and subjected myself to a substandard living situation. Other than fall baseball, there weren’t many organized group activities that were not virtual. I had come back to school to see my friends whom I hadn’t seen since March, but with how the administration handled the fall semester, even that became almost impossible. All in all, it was difficult to learn, there was a lack of community, and the administration failed to acknowledge students’ countless requests for a mental health day or any kind of support after the imposition of stringent guidelines and tight deadlines for class assignments. I’d imagine the spring semester will look similar to this fall after having seen the revised community guidelines along with the increase in COVID-19 cases after the new year. My friends and the college’s community, one that prided itself upon learning and growing together, is what made Hamilton a fun place. Everyone at the College, in my experience, is respectful, responsible, and smart. The administration should’ve taken this into account before making and enforcing the rules that were in place last fall. Last semester brought out the worst in everybody – there was more complaining and negative energy than I’d ever seen at Hamilton. Yes, the times are uncertain. Yes, our physical health should be prioritized. But at the end of the day, our mental health and emotional well-being should be equally valued. Our happiness and the positive atmosphere that makes Hamilton what it had been was lost from August to December. I miss the old Hamilton, and I’m disappointed that this is what my last year and a half of college looks like. I realize, though, that this is a reality for college students everywhere. I hope Hamilton does some reflection, or posts a survey, or makes any attempt to do better, because the only way I see myself coming back in the spring is if they can show signs of fairness, discretion, and flexibility in the rules to allow for a more exciting and vibrant campus community, simply what Hamilton used to be.
OPINION
COVID OBSERVATION
Entao Xie
*Note: Due to our elongated production timeline, this article was written just before the inauguration, and thus is not fully up to date on all policies.* At this stage of the global pandemic, while many other countries have already seen notable progress or even moved on to the phase of recovery, what we think of as the leader of the free world still seems unable to pull itself out from the mess. This phenomenon inevitably leads people, including myself, to question American exceptionalism and even its democratic system, since there aren’t many feasible solutions being offered as alternatives to the authoritarian approaches, like lockdown or tracking health and contact records when it comes to taming this ruthless pandemic. Trying to make sense of this anomaly, many people turn to the impotence of the current administration, which is the direct cause for some fatal mistakes along the way, especially during the pandemic’s early stages. As we learned from other countries, implementing precautionary policies usually prevents a full-scale breakout. Take Taiwan as an example: officials enacted international travel restrictions as soon as they learned of positive cases from Wuhan on December 31st and were thus able to control and dramatically reduce the outbreak there. Similar containment can be seen in countries like Singapore and Denmark that imposed lockdowns before they even saw
38 any positive cases. The efficacy of lockdowns is pretty obvious at this point in terms of curbing the spread of the virus, given that citizens follow them. But that’s not to say that we should dismiss its drawbacks. Politicians usually dismiss the potential cost when they consider this approach, like, for example, the fact that requiring hospitals to halt elective procedures can lead to impairment for a huge amount of patients who desperately need them. However, lockdowns aren’t the only solution to tackling the pandemic; there are countries like South Korea, which didn’t shut down entirely, but instead imposed strict vigilance on citizens’ activity and applied extensive testing and tracking. So how did the U.S. fail to deliver on any of the above? Besides the early dismissive attitudes from both federal and state governments, there are some inherent, structural problems in this country that might be the cause of our current situation. Canada is a reasonable comparison, even though it doesn’t deserve a gold medal for its handling of the pandemic. Still, they only have around 13,000 deaths till this point, paling in comparison to our 330,000. To begin, Canada has a strong and coherent federal government that wields incomparable power and control over its provinces, which resulted in a more unified effort. By contrast, the fractured government and media response we saw here prohibited a more cooperative response from the public. Moreover, by and large, America is a country that values individual liberty at all costs. So even small regulations like a mask mandate can be seen as an infringement of people’s liberty, let alone some of the aggressive authoritarian approaches taken by some other countries. Third, unlike Canada’s single-payer system (which has its own flaws), the American health-care system has proven itself largely inaccessible to most unless they are privileged enough to have a family doctor. In the midst of the pandemic, at least Canadians aren’t stressing about paying medical bills for COVID-19 treatment. As for the patients who live in rural areas, the Canadian government put together a concerted effort to increase healthcare accessibility for them in recent years. And that definitely helps the hospitals to serve rural patients better in face of the pandemic. Although the above approaches taken by other countries proved to be effective, I propose that they are not feasible here in America. A more concerted effort definitely would help mitigate the virus’s negative impact, but beating it requires more than responsible leadership. The underlying systemic problems that plague this country still need to be solved for us to get anywhere.
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